pike fishing guide

Wrote this guide because i love pike fishing and want you to share the experience.

1. Tackle Requirements

Pike fishing requires some specialised tackle. However, there are a few fundamentals that you might have already from regular angling.

The following are what i'd consider essential when going out pike fishing:


rod
reel
a large micromesh landing net
unhooking mat
forceps
wire traces
scales
weighing sling
floats
spinners/spoons/plugs etc
bite indicators

Wire traces are absolutely essential for pike fishing - even small pike have razor sharp teeth that will cut though ordinary line. For the safety of the pike your trace should be at least 15 inches (40cm) in length.

The use of semi-barbless or crushed barbed hooks, doubles or trebles, no larger than a size 6, is preferable to barbed - you will not lose fish, but unhooking will be easier and quicker, which aids pike conservation.

I personally only use a 7lb line but i would reccomend using a main line of at least 15lb recommended if using nylon monofilament, or 30lb if using braided line.

I would suggest using a rod with a 2.5lb test curve, any carp rod will do but you can buy speciailsed pike rods which may be quite expensive.

2 Rigs

When live or deadbait fishing it is important to correctly place the hooks in the bait in order to effectively hook the pike but also, importantly, to minimise the chances of deep hooking pike. For most livebaiting the top hook goes in the dorsal and the other behind the pectoral. For legered deadbaits the top one goes in the tail root and the other one no further forward than the dorsal fin. As far as baits are concerned there is a huge variety which can be used, my personal favourites being small freshwater baits such as small roach/bream.

3 Bite Indication

To ensure that pike do not swallow your baits deeply, bite indication must be reliable. Floats are perfect, but they must be watched all the time. If fishing without a float the drop-off indicator must be set to indicate a pike moving away or towards you with the bait. To achieve this a weighted indicator may be required. Audible alarms can be used but should not be relied on as the primary indicator.
4 Striking

Never wait for a second run. Strike as soon as you are sure that the pike has the bait in its jaws - if the float is moving, or the line is running out if fishing without a float. Always assume that the pike is of reasonable size and strike sooner rather than later. A pike missed is preferable to a deep-hooked one.

Remember, deeply-hooked pike not only suffer damage from the hooks but also from the extra time it takes to get them returned to the water.


5 Playing

With the pike hooked keep the line tight to the fish by keeping a good bend in your rod. Pike are one of the few coarse fish that will leap from the water in an attempt to shed the hooks. If it does try to do this (you will feel the fish rising in the water) try to keep the fish under the water by putting the rod low to the water while keeping pressure on the fish.

6 Landing

You may see experienced pike anglers land fish by hand, but until you have the confidence to handle pike it is best to use your landing net. Never attempt to 'beach' a pike as its scales and protective slime will be removed. Use wet hands to handle the fish at all times.


7 Unhooking

Handle all pike with the utmost care. On landing lay it in the landing net, grass or an unhooking mat. Never lay a pike on uncovered hard ground. When boat fishing always take carpet underlay, foam rubber sheet or an unhooking mat to cover the bottom boards. Prevent the pike from jumping around when it might damage itself, especially the vulnerable eyes, by holding it firmly against the padding.

8 Weighing

Weighing should be carried out using a weighing sling or soft net - not with the balance hook under the pike's chin. Weigh slings should be wetted before the pike is put in them in order to protect the pike's coating of slime.

10 Returning Pike

If you have to, retain pike in a specially designed pike tube or retention sack, but do so only for the minimum period of time necessary for photographs, etc. Always fully sink the tube or sack and leave alone once in position. Do not tow fish behind boats in tubes or sacks (it is dangerous to the fish to do this) or transport pike long distances in boats. In warm weather in particular, pike can easily die from this mistreatment.

 

It'll be much better if you show pictures and explain some of the terms, nice guide tho 7/10.

 

Thanks for the feedback, i'm going to bed now but i'll be sure to update with pictures tomorrow and will explain some of the terms people may find confusing.

 

getting some pics together now.

 

Haha. At first I thought it was for RS. XD

Good guide so far. Needs some work though.

Change text color. We can barely see some parts as it's too dark.
Also, add some pictures. It's always better and more enjoyable to look at while reading a guide.
You should also explain some words as we are not fishing pros so we don't know all the terms you used.

Work on these points and your gudie should be fine.

6/10.